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YouTube Go beta is here: Save videos to watch offline (Update: Now out of beta)

Update (11/28): YouTube Go has now officially exited beta and is available to download from the Play Store. As expected, the streamlined, data-friendly YouTube app is only available in selected regions in Asia, such as India and Indonesia. If you’re located elsewhere and really keen to try YouTube Go out for yourself, the app can also be downloaded from APK Mirrorhere.

Original story (2/9):Google has launched the YouTube Go beta app in the Play Store. The new app allows you to save videos to your device or SD card for offline viewing — potentially reducing your mobile data usage.

It works much like the regular YouTube app but when you select a video to view, YouTube Go will ask if you instead want to download it. Videos are available in two resolutions “basic quality” (which looks like 144p) and “standard quality” (possibly 360p): there’s no access to HD resolutions here. However, the app is designed primarily for regions with comparatively slower internet speeds on devices with small storage capacities.

You can also share offline videos with friends via Bluetooth, though Google notes this will require access to the internet to perform a 15kb security check once the video is received.

Google unveiled the app in September last year and it’s no doubt going to be welcomed by those who don’t have such easy access to mobile data. I know the lack of 720p or 1080p resolution might irk some people, but consider that Google allowed those options knowing that the app’s main user base wouldn’t really be able to take advantage of the higher quality. That would kinda suck, wouldn’t it?

It’s not available in the Play Store in all regions just yet — its Play Store description has some Hindi, alongside a fair bit of emoji and an English description — but you can try and download it in your location via the button below. Note that you’ll have to verify your phone number to install it.